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‘New land pooling policy will deprive people of affordable housing’

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New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) A housing society group on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure implementation of earlier approved Land Pooling Policy, as the new policy will deprive people of affordable housing in some parts of the national capital, and also warned of an agitation if this was not done.

The Federation of Housing Societies and Developers in Delhi (FEDHSDD), which held a day-long protest at the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) office, also wrote to Modi demanding immediate rollback of modified land pooling policy as it will “increase the cost of homes by 40-50 per cent and affect more than 40,000 people who have invested under the policy”.

“This sudden spike in rates is because the DDA, in its modified policy, has brought down the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from 400 to 180. This change defeats the main purpose of affordable housing and will lead to the growth of unauthorized colonies in Delhi,” FEDHSDD Secretary Satish Aggarwal told the media here.

“We will go to the Prime Minister’s office and go on a hunger strike if our demands are not met,” he said.

Aggarwal has also alleged that the DDA has taken a “U-turn” on their 2013 land pooling policy notification and arbitrarily modified the policy to benefit large developers and builders by reducing FARs, making one-time payment of External Development Charges (EDC) mandatory and by making provision of consortium necessary.

According to the newly-proposed modification, he claimed that “a few private developers will take over the role of DDA as a consolidator and facilitator”.

“It is a nexus between DDA and big builders to deprive cooperative housing societies to get affordable homes. In a very haphazard and arbitrary manner, DDA has tried to skirt all its responsibilities. It is a ploy to kill cooperative housing movement to favour big builders. We will not allow this to happen,” Aggarwal said.

He also pointed out that the earlier policy would have provided at least 25 lakh affordable homes to people including 50,000 homes to people in the economically weaker section (EWS) category.

“The people of Delhi have invested approximately Rs 35,000 crore in it. Previously, all the stakeholders and farmers were satisfied with the provisions but now, from where will we manage the extra money,” he said.

The Federation, with thousands of its members and farmers, are planning to hold a big protest to pressurize DDA to revert its decision.

“Farmers who have sold their land in the proposed zone in north Delhi are up in arms against DDA and have threatened to launch a big protest. The Federation has given several letters to the DDA Vice Chairman and has also written to Prime Minister Modi to resolve the issue, but the government has failed to listen to our suggestions,” Aggarwal said.

Meanwhile, DDA on Wednesday said that a public hearing on the land pooling policy will be conducted on July 2 and 3.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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